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Bacteriology: Staph infections in the skin controlled by the immune molecule IL-17

Date:
April 1, 2010
Source:
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Summary:
In recent years, antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which is the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infections such as cellulitis, have emerged and are creating a serious public health concern. If we are to develop therapies that provide an alternative to antibiotics, greater understanding is needed of the immune response to Staphylococcus aureus skin infection. Researchers have now provided new insight into this by studying a mouse model of the condition.
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In recent years, antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which is the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infections such as cellulitis, have emerged and are creating a serious public health concern. If we are to develop therapies that provide an alternative to antibiotics, greater understanding is needed of the immune response to Staphylococcus aureus skin infection.

Lloyd Miller and colleagues, at the University of California at Los Angeles, have now provided new insight into this by studying a mouse model of the condition. Specifically, they found that the immune molecule IL-17 has an important role in controlling Staphylococcus aureus infection in the mouse skin.

The authors therefore suggest that therapies aimed at inducing IL-17 responses in the skin may provide a new approach to treating individuals susceptible to Staphylococcus aureus skin infections.

The research appears in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.



Story Source:

Materials provided by Journal of Clinical Investigation. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. John S. Cho, Eric M. Pietras, Nairy C. Garcia, Romela Irene Ramos, David M. Farzam, Holly R. Monroe, Julie E. Magorien, Andrew Blauvelt, Jay K. Kolls, Ambrose L. Cheung, Genhong Cheng, Robert L. Modlin, and Lloyd S. Miller. IL-17 is essential for host defense against cutaneous Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2010; DOI: 10.1172/JCI40891

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Journal of Clinical Investigation. "Bacteriology: Staph infections in the skin controlled by the immune molecule IL-17." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 April 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100401220501.htm>.
Journal of Clinical Investigation. (2010, April 1). Bacteriology: Staph infections in the skin controlled by the immune molecule IL-17. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100401220501.htm
Journal of Clinical Investigation. "Bacteriology: Staph infections in the skin controlled by the immune molecule IL-17." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100401220501.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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